Hamdou Elhouni’s early departure from Al-Ahly Tripoli’s friendly against Al-Hilal has raised concern in Libya ahead of the national team’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, although a source close to the player says the injury is not considered serious.
Elhouni was forced off in the 63rd minute of Al-Ahly Tripoli’s 1-0 victory over Sudanese side Al-Hilal, prompting concern among supporters with the Libyan national team preparing for two important qualifying matches.
The timing of the injury has added to the attention surrounding the veteran winger, who was recently recalled to the Libya squad for matches against Botswana and Uganda.
His return to the national team marks the end of a five-year absence. Elhouni last represented the Mediterranean Knights in October 2021 against Egypt.
The former Esperance Tunis player had become a notable name in the national team setup before his long absence. His return was particularly significant after previous situations and repeated apologies for missing international duty because of personal circumstances and a succession of injuries.
However, hopes of seeing Elhouni back in competitive international action were briefly overshadowed by his latest injury scare.
Supporters are now waiting for an official medical assessment to establish whether he will be fit to join the national team for the upcoming qualifiers. His availability is considered important as Libya prepares for the two matches against Botswana and Uganda.
Despite the lack of an official medical statement from Al-Ahly Tripoli’s medical staff, a private source told the Winwin platform that there was no major reason for concern over the player’s condition.
According to the source, Elhouni suffered only a minor bruise during training and the injury is not considered serious.
The source added that the situation was developing in a reassuring direction, while the final medical report would be required to confirm that the player is fully fit and ready to participate in the upcoming matches.
The update will be closely followed by Libya supporters, particularly because Elhouni’s national team return had generated considerable attention after his prolonged absence.
For now, the focus remains on the medical assessment and whether the injury will affect the winger’s availability for the national team.
Elhouni’s early exit against Al-Hilal therefore comes at a crucial point, but the information available so far suggests that the injury may not prevent him from joining Libya’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The final medical report will determine his condition and provide the clearest indication of whether the experienced attacker can take part in the upcoming fixtures against Botswana and Uganda.
